They witnessed and reported on pressing policy discussions, publishing their own blogs and policy briefs in the Global Policy Journal. Dr Gregory Stiles who organised the trip had the following to say:
This was an amazing experience for the students involved who were able to attend the inner workings of the International Media Centre at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro and see first-hand how global events play out and are reported. The students really embraced the opportunity to engage with international NGOs, policy organisations and journalists who were astounded at the depth of background knowledge and understanding the students had in their specialist areas. Networking and being interviewed on their expertise in the setting of the G20 has provided them with global opportunities that simply cannot be experienced anywhere else
Dr Gregory Stiles
We sat down with the students to hear more about their experiences.
What interested you in taking part in this event?
“My personal interest in AI and its development, for G20 particularly in the context of its governance and application in global economic growth. It is a dynamic area that has increasingly been placed on the international agenda, especially over the past few years since the start of the gen AI revolution in 2023.” - Grzegorz Stal
“Before applying, I knew nothing about the G20. To be honest, the offer of a trip to Brazil was initially what drew me to apply. However, after a quick look into what the G20 was, and what it claims to offer for development (specifically towards sustainability), I became fascinated by what the summit meant.” - Amelia Eveleigh
“As a Politics and International Relations student, I was eager to experience international politics in action. The opportunity to witness world leaders negotiating, collaborating, and debating on critical global issues first-hand was incredibly appealing.” - Scarlett Vickers
I studied politics at undergraduate level and am now doing a Masters in Broadcast Journalism at Sheffield, so for me this was the perfect chance to marry together my love of the two subjects! - Madeleine Fearn
What was the most surprising thing you learnt or experienced during the summit?
“The ways in which the media are communicated to by the summit. Official memos and announcements were made on a WhatsApp group chat. Other news was spread quickly through word of mouth. Just experiencing this slightly mad, super busy hall crammed with the world's media was really interesting.” - Ethan Ryan
“Chatting to James Lansdale (BBC journalist) in the queue for the bus - I was reminded that at the summit I would be shoulder-to-shoulder with the big names from the international media.” - Amelia Eveleigh
“There were people from all over the world, not just G20 member countries but also representatives from non-member nations and international organisations. It was amazing to see such a wide range of perspectives coming together in one place." - Alicia Sier-Acinas
“The most surprising thing I learned during the summit was how global governance issues are discussed and executed step by step…I now realise that even the most grandiose global social challenges are tackled by individuals. This experience made me feel that I, too, can be one of those contributors, playing a part in shaping a better future.” - Shengyao Guo
What discussions, events or activities did you find the most interesting?
“Lula's speech at the third leaders meeting was pretty interesting, it was probably the most related to my topic and he also spoke with an urgency and passion about climate change that you rarely hear from mainstream politicians in this country anymore.” - Ethan Ryan
“I found collaborating and bonding with my G20 university team the most rewarding. Sharing opinions, working together, and encouraging each other.” - Grzegorz Stal
“Visiting the Botanical Gardens and seeing monkeys in the wild was amazing! The flora and fauna there was like nothing I had ever seen. Yet such beautiful surroundings were offset by the scattering of Shell logos stamped all over billboards in the gardens. Working alongside another member of the team, I was able to turn this group outing into a blog post for the Global Policy Journal. This highlighted the intrinsic greenwashing of Shell, despite Brazil's attempt to be a global leader in sustainability.” - Amelia Eveleigh
“I found it fascinating that the idea of implementing "tax the rich" policies was even brought to the table. It was incredible to see such a bold and contentious topic discussed on a global platform, given its potential to address extreme wealth inequality.” - Alicia Sier-Acinas
“I found the conversations that I had with professionals from many different sectors and different parts of the world to be really insightful. These conversations would happen whilst sat on the bus, in the various security queues or at the Summit itself.” - Imogen Parry
What do you think you gained from this experience?
“I gained valuable skills in communication, writing, and adapting and working under pressure. I also earned new perspectives from experiencing Rio that I otherwise would have lacked” - Ethan Ryan
“I left with a new confidence in myself - genuinely feeling proud of the work I produced and co-wrote with the team…Being able to say I have published my own work is not only great for my CV, but also a great memento of the time I spent in Brazil with such great people.” - Amelia Eveleigh
“I know now that I would like to work for an NGO at some point in my career and speaking with people in the industry has given me an insight into how I can get there.” - Imogen Parry
“The greatest gain from this experience was building my self-confidence. Engaging with incredible individuals at the summit not only allowed me to gain valuable insights but also made me realise that others valued my ideas.” - Shengyao Guo
“I gained a much deeper understanding of how international politics operates—it's chaotic, fast-moving, and sometimes overwhelming, but also incredibly captivating to observe and report on. It reminded me why I’m so passionate about this field.” - Scarlett Vickers
What was your most memorable moment from the trip?
“Visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue and overlooking the entire city of Rio de Janeiro was an unforgettable experience.” - Grzegorz Stal
“I enjoyed the excitement of seeing which head of state will turn up and seeing the huge entourage of security cars that followed them and watching news reports happen live.” - Imogen Parry
“Arranging interviews for Dr. Matthew L. Bishop, Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Sheffield, with four of China's largest media outlets: CMG, CGTN, Global Times, and Shenzhen TV.” - Shengyao Guo
“The magical night swim on the first evening. Everyone was enjoying the music, sipping on caipirinhas, and taking in the breathtaking view of Christ the Redeemer illuminated in the night sky.” - Alicia Sier-Acinas
“The final evening in the media centre. The adrenaline and stress of trying to finish our policy briefs and blogs created a sense of urgency that made the relief and joy when everything finally came together even more unforgettable…Despite the tension, it was one of my favourite moments, as I felt incredibly grateful to be there with such a supportive team.” - Scarlett Vickers
I was sitting outside on the press balcony (on the phone to my mum) where all the big outlets had their cameras all set up, when all of a sudden all of the photographers ran over to one side of the balcony and started jostling for position. I ran to grab a spot, wondering what was happening, when a huge motorcade pulled up, and the car at the front had the US flag on it - it was Biden arriving! So I can officially say I've seen a President with my own two eyes, which is pretty cool! - Madeleine Fearn
